Are you the victim of a crash involving a driver who hit your car and fled the scene? Don’t hesitate to contact Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers for legal representation from a Nassau County hit and run accident lawyer.
As attorneys who have 50 years of combined experience, we’ve recovered over $100 million for our clients. Our car accident lawyers in Nassau County are ready to pursue compensation on your behalf.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash Can Create Multiple Legal Issues
Your personal injury lawyer in Nassau County can conduct a hit-and-run investigation to assist with your civil claim and help you report a hit-and-run accident in New York if necessary.
Meanwhile, law enforcement can investigate whether the driver violated Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600, which requires anyone involved in an accident that causes personal injury to:
- Stop at the scene of the crash
- Provide information to the injured person when practical
- Communicate with police officers at the scene of the collision
- Report the incident to the nearest police station or judicial officer if officers aren’t present
Any criminal case against the driver is separate from your potential civil injury claim. Your hit and run accident attorney in Nassau County can investigate whether the driver acted with negligence and what insurance coverage exists for your injuries. Both the civil and criminal legal processes often happen at the same time.
Case Today (212) 977-2020
Your Injury Claim Does Not Always Depend on Finding the Driver
One of the hardest parts of a hit-and-run crash is the uncertainty surrounding the person who caused it. If the driver disappears, you might assume that there is nobody to pursue for compensation. However, New York law provides another potential avenue.
If you’re wondering what insurance covers hit-and-run accidents in New York, New York Insurance Law § 3420 requires certain automobile liability policies to include uninsured motorist protection for bodily injury caused by an uninsured vehicle or an unidentified vehicle that leaves the accident scene.
You may also have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that can help with your medical bills. Depending on the circumstances, your hit and run car accident lawyer in Nassau County can tackle these responsibilities in your case:
- Review your insurance policy or policies
- Determine what coverage applies
- Communicate with the insurer on your behalf
Our hit and run accident lawyers in Nassau County can look at which coverage applies, whether the statutory requirements have been met, and what notice requirements exist. We can also determine what evidence supports your claim.
Physical Contact Can Matter Under New York Law
New York has specific statutory rules governing claims involving unidentified vehicles. Insurance Law § 5217 states that the protections under Article 52 do not apply to a claim arising from a motor vehicle accident against an unidentified person, unless the injured person’s bodily injury is the result of physical contact with one of these two pieces of property:
- The vehicle causing the injury
- The vehicle the injured person occupied
For example, photographs showing damage to your vehicle, debris from the collision, paint transfer, broken vehicle components, or other physical evidence can help establish that an unidentified vehicle actually struck you.
Witness statements and available video footage can provide additional evidence. Your hit and run lawyer in Nassau County can gather this material and preserve it as part of the claim. This is one reason a hit-and-run case should not be treated like a routine insurance claim.
For those wondering what to do after a hit-and-run, start by contacting a lawyer. Even if the identity of the driver is unknown, evidence that establishes how the collision happened can take on an even greater role.
Insurance Coverage Requires Careful Review
A hit-and-run accident can leave you dealing with your own insurer instead of the other driver’s insurer. That does not mean the insurance company automatically becomes your advocate. Your insurer still has a financial interest in how the claim is evaluated.
Your hit-and-run accident lawyer in Nassau County can review the policy language and determine what benefits or coverage might apply to your case. Here’s what your attorney’s review might include:
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- No-fault benefits
- Other provisions relevant to your circumstances
New York Insurance Law § 3420 specifically addresses uninsured-motorist protection and coverage involving unidentified vehicles. The distinction between different forms of coverage can matter because they serve different purposes.
One portion of an insurance claim can address certain economic losses, while another can potentially provide compensation for damages associated with a qualifying personal injury.
Rather than accepting an insurer’s description of your coverage at face value, your hit and run accident attorney in Nassau County can examine the policy and the applicable New York statutes.
Call Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers for Advice From Our Nassau County Hit and Run Accident Attorneys
At Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers, personal attention is central to the way our law firm approaches injury cases. We treat our clients like family, work with urgency, and give each client direct access to their Nassau County hit and run accident attorney’s cell phone number.
Our entire team is Spanish-bilingual, and we can come to you if traveling to our office is difficult for you. As attorneys who work aggressively to pursue the compensation our clients deserve, we’ll make sure your claim is supported by the facts.
We’ll also let you know what you can honestly and realistically expect from your case. All of our cases are prepared as though they will go to trial, and we’re ready to advocate for the results you deserve. Come in as a client, leave as a friend. Contact us today!
